Major Investments for Infrastructure Enhancement in Taounate
The regional multi-service company Fes-Meknes has announced a significant investment exceeding 459 million dirhams aimed at enhancing and expanding essential services, namely potable water, electricity, and wastewater management within the Taounate region. This initiative was unveiled during a recent communication meeting held in Taounate, which was part of a broader outreach effort by the company to engage with the local populace.
As per the information shared during the meeting, these investments are meticulously allocated across various sectors: approximately 85.9 million dirhams dedicated to potable water, nearly 300 million dirhams earmarked for wastewater management, and around 73.63 million dirhams intended for electricity improvements. This comprehensive approach is designed to bridge regional disparities and ensure the sustainability of essential services in the area.
The budget for the potable water sector will be primarily focused on expanding and enhancing distribution networks, thereby improving efficiency. Key projects include supplying water to villages in the Tissa Circle from the Idriss I dam, as well as providing water to the villages in the Gafsay Circle and the village from the Unity dam. Additionally, the Taounate Circle will receive water from the Bouhda dam, alongside efforts to extend networks through new pipeline installations, construction of storage tanks, and pumping stations. The scope of these improvements encompasses approximately 55 kilometers of pipelines, 265 individual connections, and 56 public fountains benefiting numerous villages.
Moreover, the project aims to strengthen and renew existing networks, with an investment of 8 million dirhams allocated for these upgrades, while also addressing legacy projects previously managed by the National Office of Potable Water, amounting to 104 million dirhams, in addition to constructing and equipping new reservoirs and rehabilitating existing facilities.
In the realm of wastewater management, investments approaching 300 million dirhams for the year 2026 have been allocated for both ongoing and planned projects. Noteworthy initiatives include the wastewater management project in the Bouhda commune, which will involve the installation of new pipelines, pumping stations, and treatment facilities. Similar projects are also underway in the communes of Ourzagh and Sidi Mkhfi, supplemented by programs aimed at upgrading and expanding networks in various emerging centers.
The ultimate goal of these investments is to increase connectivity, particularly in rural areas, minimize pollution, and promote the reuse of treated wastewater in the medium term. In the electricity sector, the investments planned for 2026 are approximately 73.63 million dirhams, with a focused effort on strengthening networks and enhancing supply quality. Key projects include the renewal and replacement of outdated electrical poles, with over 1,800 low-voltage and 45 medium-voltage poles scheduled for replacement, alongside the renewal of around 7,600 electrical poles at a cost exceeding 17 million dirhams, and the expansion of the electrical network to connect approximately 1,816 rural homes.
Furthermore, the company aims to achieve a 100% electricity access rate in the region through a program intended to connect around 2,700 additional homes, with an estimated cost of 44 million dirhams. During the meeting, Mohamed Chahoui, the general director of the Fes-Meknes multi-service company, emphasized that the company’s new strategy is centered on establishing a management model focused on improving service quality, adopting a proximity strategy, and ensuring responsiveness and efficiency.
This meeting served as a practical platform to diagnose existing shortcomings and involve local elected officials and stakeholders in formulating solutions and establishing priorities. He noted that the company is transitioning from a centralized management approach to a more flexible methodology that considers the unique characteristics of each region and community, with an emphasis on service quality enhancement, expediting technical interventions, and strengthening mechanisms for addressing citizen complaints in a timely manner.
This initiative is part of a series of consultative tours launched by the regional multi-service company across nine regions in the Fes-Meknes area, embodying a strategic vision focused on direct engagement with various local stakeholders. Prior to this meeting, similar sessions were conducted in the Taza and Boulemane regions, with plans to extend this dynamic across all provinces within the Fes-Meknes region.
As reported by madar21.com.
